Tips for disability service providers for students with disabilities

Tips for Disability Service Providers for Students with Disabilities TIPS FOR TEST TAKERS WITH DISABILITIES Taking a test is an opportunity to demonstrate what you know and, in some cases, your readin[.]

TIPS FOR TEST TAKERS

WITH DISABILITIES

Taking a test is an opportunity to demonstrate what you know and, in some cases, your readiness for the next step in your

education or career However, as a test taker with a disability, you may have found that tests also can pose disability-related barriers

— potentially preventing you from demonstrating your true knowledge and skills.

It is helpful to have a good understanding of the nature of your test and which accommodations might be appropriate for you The five steps listed throughout this document will help you learn about test format, break times and test site accessibility conditions They will also explain how to prepare your request for accommodations and your supporting documentation.

STEP 1: LEARN ABOUT THE TEST

First, find out whether the test is paper delivered or computer delivered You should then read about the test in the appropriate ETS information or registration bulletin that is

available at www.ets.org/disabilities/resources/bulletins_and_supplements and review the content areas covered by the test

Second, be sure you understand the format of the test Is it entirely multiple choice or are there short-answer and essay questions as well? Some tests may also have audio or video content, tables and charts, or other media Test format may influence your accommodation requests (e.g., a test with audio content may require accommodations if you have hearing loss)

Next, you should find out if you are permitted to go back to questions that you skipped and learn about the test-taking tools that may be available to you even if you don’t request accommodations For example, some tests provide an on-screen calculator and, for most tests, scratch paper is available to all test takers

Finally, take practice tests and view sample questions to help you prepare for your exam(s) View the test preparation materials online at www.ets.org to learn about the wide variety of resources that ETS programs offer

STEP 2: UNDERSTAND TEST LENGTH AND BREAK TIMING

Test Length

Many test takers with disabilities are permitted to take classroom tests with extra time, typically 50 or 100 percent more time than the time allotted to the class overall However, many standardized tests are four or more hours long Understanding how a high-stakes test

is timed is critical, especially if you are considering asking for 50 or 100 percent extra time

If you have difficulty sustaining your attention and focus over time, or tend to get fatigued and distracted if sitting for a prolonged period, it is important to think through the implications of dramatically lengthening the duration of an exam that is already several hours long

Breaks

Extra breaks can frequently be a more effective accommodation than extended testing time Some ETS tests have scheduled breaks for all test takers Be sure to review this

information on the testing program website for the test you plan to take Carefully consider

if you will need additional and/or longer breaks than what is permitted for all test takers

If you are approved for extra breaks on an ETS test, you will be able to stop the testing clock while you take your break Although it is best to take a break at the end of a section, we recognize that for some medical conditions immediate breaks may be necessary; you will

be permitted to take a break at your discretion in those instances

STEP 3: PREPARE YOUR REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATIONS

AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Plan ahead Submit your request as early as possible Documentation review takes

approximately four to six weeks once your completed paperwork has been received

If your request is deemed incomplete by ETS and additional documentation must be submitted, it can be another four to six weeks from the time the new documentation is

received until the review is complete You want to be sure you have ample time to submit

the necessary information and wait for a decision

Make sure your disability documentation is up to date Check the ETS Disability Guidelines

online at www.ets.org/disabilities/test_takers/disability_documentation Even if you

have a lifelong condition, your ability to compensate for your disability may be different

now than it was in your earlier educational experiences (e.g., elementary school) Therefore,

the test accommodations you need may have also changed This is why it is important

to include:

• current documentation of your disability

• your most recent history of accommodation use

• the current impact of your condition on academic tasks

• your need for accommodations on the test you are planning to take

Talk with the qualified professional who completed your most recent evaluation

Provide your doctor or evaluator with a copy of ETS documentation guidelines if you need

updated documentation and to be sure your documentation meets the testing agency’s

criteria A note from your doctor or evaluator simply stating a diagnosis is usually not

sufficient It is best to provide a comprehensive report/letter detailing your condition/

disability and how it impacts you in academic tasks, such as test taking It is most helpful if

the doctor or evaluator includes the rationale for each requested accommodation

Consult with the disability service provider (DSP) If you are a student on a college or

university campus and have been working with the DSP, schedule an appointment and

review your records with this individual Your DSP can assist you in assembling your request

for accommodations and ensuring you have all of the required materials Request that your

DSP complete a Certification of Eligibility (COE): Accommodation History form or submit

a letter of support that documents the types of accommodations you have used and the

history of your accommodation use

Provide a personal statement The statement can be a way for you to explain the

limitations you experience and how those limitations impact your test-taking performance

This can be an important supplement to the documentation submitted by your evaluator

Read Guidance on How to Write a Personal Statement online at www.ets.org/s/disabilities/

pdf/personal-statement.pdf for tips on writing an effective personal statement

STEP 4: ONCE YOU HEAR FROM ETS

If you are approved for accommodations, your approval letter will be sent via email This

letter will provide you with directions for scheduling your test Do not schedule a test prior

to receiving this notification If you have any questions regarding your accommodations or

test site, contact ETS Disability Services by email at stassd@ets.org or call 1-609-771-7780

If any or all of your requested accommodations were not approved, you will receive a

decision letter by email Consider whether the approved accommodations are sufficient

or whether you want to appeal the decision The decision letter will provide directions on

how to appeal the decision

If your accommodations request is missing information or documentation, work with your

evaluator and/or DSP to obtain the required materials for ETS

THINGS TO KEEP

IN MIND WHEN REQUESTING ACCOMMODATIONS

• Accommodations on high-stakes tests are designed to permit equal access to the test, not to achieve an outcome — such as finishing the test or performing your best

• While your evaluator’s suggestions and your preferences will be given considerable weight, some accommodations may be impossible or not permissible because they would

fundamentally alter the nature of the test or result in invalid scores

• Most high-stakes tests are administered in carefully controlled test centers Typically, relatively few test takers are testing at any given time and most will be seated

at individual workstations that resemble library carrels The test center’s proctors will ensure that the environment

is quiet and conducive to testing Therefore, some accommodations that are appropriate for classroom tests (e.g., “preferential seating,” “private room”) may not be necessary on a high-stakes test

STEP 5: REVIEW TEST SITE LOCATION AND CONDITIONS

Consider the amount of travel time needed to get to your test site — including

the volume of traffic and time of day your test is scheduled Ideally, you should

arrive at least 30 minutes prior to testing time

If you have any concerns about physical access to the test site, contact ETS

Disability Services in advance to discuss your concerns Although most standard

test centers are fully accessible, a few may be in older buildings that could pose

challenges You should also explore the testing site conditions, including test

center hours, the size of the center, the number of testing carrels available and

how many test takers can be served at a time

You should also find out what resources the test center can provide (e.g., earplugs

or earmuffs) Prometric® allows certain pre-approved personal items into its test

centers It is recommended that you view the list of pre-approved personal items

online at https://www.prometric.com/sites/default/files/Permissible-items.pdf

before the test date

Prometric also offers a program called “Test Drive” for a nominal fee This program

allows you to walk through, on a practice basis, all check-in and testing

procedures that occur at the test center on test day View Prometric Test Drive on

the test center’s website at

www.prometric.com/en-us/for-test-takers/prepare-for-test-day/pages/take-a-practice-test.aspx to find information about this

program and schedule an appointment

REMEMBER THESE TIPS DURING THE TEST

All high-stakes tests are timed, even those taken with accommodations

• Read the directions and each question thoroughly, making certain that you understand exactly what is expected

• Always read multiple-choice questions carefully First pause and try to predict the correct answer before looking at the answer options

• If you are still unsure about the correct answer, reread the question and try to eliminate one

or two choices that are clearly wrong so that you can make an educated guess Do not allow yourself to become stuck on

a question

• The goal may not be to finish the test but to do well Keep in mind that not everyone finishes the test In fact, on some high-stakes tests, most people do not finish the test

We wish you the best on test day!

Copyright © 2019 by Educational Testing Service All rights reserved ETS, the ETS logo and MEASURING THE

POWER OF LEARNING are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service (ETS) Prometric is a registered

trademark of Prometric, Inc 41577

For additional questions, please visit our Frequently Asked

Questions page at www.ets.org/disabilities/test_takers/faq.